Cloth laying apparatus



Sept. 12, 1844. f. RBCOLES am 2,858,188

CLOTH LAYING APPARATUS Filed June 23', 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jefe/j 5y @4. we"

ATORNEY.

Sept. l2, 1944- T. R. scoLEs m-AL CLQTH LAYING' APPARATUS Filed June 28, l1941 2 `sheets-sheet 2 8 m5 n www v i@ n NC 15,96 A E# a. @8% ,w

L ,Mm

Patented Sept. 12, 19.44

Lyle'Jetei., Kansas City, Mol] Application June 23,1941, serie1;No.'-.399 ,41c, f i C1eim' -1., C1270731.);, l The present invention relates to improvemen t s in cloth-laying machinesjdesigned to lay lengths or strips of material from a continuous web oi' the material, in superposed layers or st acks'upor 1 a cutting table.

More particularly the present improvements relate to' apparatus for laying's'uchmaterial as it; is fed'iromfa supply of thematerial in f flatv folded condition. In such operation the appa@ ratus travels back and forth overthe cutting table whilethe material is trailed .thereon through the medium of guiding' and spreading means; and; we have found that it increases the effectiveness of such voperation to reverse the guiding andfj spreading means With reference tothe remainder of the apparatus at each reversal of its movement along the cutting table.

Accordingly the present invention comprises'.

adjustingenaiatehieggneansl 515' travelling '3 1 apparatus of this character which includes a riotary table for carrying the material supply, `and t. 20 cloth trailing or laying means comprising cloth Aavvlleeled carriagemadeup of s ide frame -memy guiding and spreading means adapted] to be bers ll2^ffor the oppositesids ofthe apparatus and y folded or manipulated in such'a Way as to facildirection of travel of the apparatus.

itate the reversal of said table according tothefj The `invention further comprises meansfforj latchingthe Acloth guiding and spreadingmeans in operative position and for releasing the vsame for folding purposes; in connection with Whichj provision is also made for automatically latching the rotary table after reversal of the same.

Still further features of improvement comprise means for adjusting the height of thecietn guid ing andspreading means from time toY time in. accordance vWith the heightof the stack off cut lengthsor stripsjof material (which ,have been deposited upon the cutting table; and alsosuitf able provision for adjustingthe rotarytable vlat- A erally'with reference to the remainder of the.

apparatusforcausing one of the side.edgesof the vveb 'of material to register or aline With a,

fixed-longitudinal lineVV along the cutting`tab1e.

With the `foregoing general objects in view, the, invention will now be described in detail b y re,-

erence to the accompanying drawings', WhereirnE is illustrated one form of construction .which we have devised for the embodiment ofthe proposed.,

screws 291 v'vhich are providedA improvements-after which those features, ,andl

combinationswhich We Vdeem to be noveland 59 formed with aisuitalole bearing 341for receiving patentable Will be particularly set forthv `and claimed.

In the drawings-.-

Figure 1 is a plan view (With portions-broken away), illustrating an apparatus constructed. in. 55

accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 isa side elevation ofthe samer;

on the line 3-.-3` of.Figure 1, but including .a suppiy er l jfflat-,fpid material.. with" the webV tnerejfromveigtended throughlthe clothwguiding andi of the taloleadjusting spe'ctiveviewshowingthe-'supportingeshat `for A Figure 6 is anenlargedffragmentary 4ing shaft; and

mi Ne.' 367,050, nieaNovembera'',1940...-..

. upon- Whichthecloth\material is tobelaid orf A deposited-,- and accordinglythecarriage ispro upon the top ofthecutting table 20` and 'a -pair grooved collars `33 mounted for sliding adjust-- under, face-.ofthe tabla 3,1. which .isprovdedwith-", f

rollers, 38, f

spreadingstructure;` Y

Figure4jis-lanenlarged.sectionaldetail of one devicesy- Figure 5 is an enlargedefragmentaryl and per-.l l

the lowervportion crine ciotnguidingand laying means, and details 'ofy theadjustingand latch-Y y ing meanstherefor;u v- Y v elevation. l.

showing connections atene endofisaicbsupport Figure 711s a Vfurther#detailof a portionlofesaid nlhefpre'sent application relates tomimprove-Y mentsinthe same general'typefof apparatus as that 'illustrated inourcopendin'g application Se- Referring Vnow to the drawings in detail, our, Y improved 'apparatus Ais-'illustrated as comprising l connected-yin spacedY and parallel relation by' means'j oftier'ods 'ori bars 1.5 and clamping- -or` sel curing-'i-nutsveliii-(see Figure-4). v`vThis vvcarriagestructureis designed for movement lengthwise overthe top 'of a xed cloth cuttingtablelvided vvith Wheels or `rollers for `rolling travel,v as for examplea pair-of plainfaced" v'vheelseZtLA 2. at one'V side of the carriage f or restingdirectlyl' .Y

or the liketo Vone -sideedge of said table; as ill-us- Y L trated in Figuresfl fand-2" or iinsubstantially the same manner as 'set' forth' in said fcopending application Y M Supporjted uponfa-pairfofthe tie rods or bars I 5 is a'horiz'ontal framework --3 ha`vin'g depending 1 legs '32ffsupportedfuponi said-crossbars l5', the legs 327a`tone side of the-'apparatus having lforked or yoke-shaped loWer'ends-for lengagement with vf Thecentral portion off this framework Syis a vefiial lspiniiledepending ifQmffhebiwmf facega rotary.- iable.Slaillilsiraiedin. Figure 3: Y The framework ,66. @Salso .,prerided with .set of ro 1 1e1;s ,3 8 `for! .Supporting engagement with the r the formar, pliaaltemateiynap .d;, nfo1dea.ig

said finger having a projection 8l for connection to an operating link 83 leading to a handle 84 pivoted to the lower end portion of the arm 56 (see Figure 2). The other end of the shaft 82 is also provided with a finger 85 for connection toa, similar operating link 83 and handle 84 onithe other arm 51 (see Figure 6) whereby the ried over or between a pair of auxiliaryrguide` rollers 48 and 49, the opposite ends of which are journaled on plates 50 having studs' orpins'5l pivoted for angular adjustment with reference' to the brackets 45, to which they lareY secured by means of clamping nuts 52. From these guide rollers 48 and 49, the material is passed overa roller 53 mounted inthe baseportions o f the.

brackets 45, and thence over or between another Y pair Aofv guide rollers 48. and-49.' -journaledprr plates 50 having pivot pins or studs 5l for clamping adjustment to theouter endsof a pair of arms 56 and v51 atthe opposite sidesof the apparatus. These arms 56 and 51'are attached to the .Opposite ends of an oscillatory shaft i 3 which is journaled in the lower.V ends Vof the brackets 45sothatsaid arms are thus` mounted for swingingmovement into the-position representedby the dotted lines in Figure v3, rwhere they are supported in engagement with stop pinsdisengagemento fsaid pawl 12 from the shoulder v1l] may be effected from either end of said shaft'I `82,'as is necessary, since the'table 31 is reversed,

in position at each change or reversal of its direc-- tion of travel along the cutting table 20.

It is also necessary to latch the rotary table: 31 in each of its two opposite positions, i. e., fortravel in opposite directions along the table 20.

Accordingly said table 31Y islprovided with mar-V ginal recesses Slat diametrieally'opposite points for engagement; with 'a' latch bar 90 slidingly mounted in bearing brackets 92 secured to the under face of that end of the table 31 which.Y

carries the bracket members ;A asshoWn in Figure 3.' A coil spring 94 is mounted on said latch bar 90 *and` in engagement with a collar 95k secured'to'theV barin such'relation as to actuate' the latter normally intoA latchingengagem'ent with one cr the other of said recesses 81.

60 projecting outwardly from said brackets 45. *Y

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, theguide rollers 49 and 49v are also provided with adjustable collars 42 the same as the cross bar `43, for guiding engagement with the side edges of the web 91 having a collar portion loosely mounted onV -the shaft member 58', with the lower end of saidv material 4 I Provision is made for latching thefamis' '5a.

and 51 in lower positions and at diferentheights fling movement in the opposite direction. This` according to the heightofjthe materialfas it is simultaneously releasing b OtllY arms for swinging movement upward in to inoperative positionfwhile'- the apparatusis being reversed for jtravel in anv opposite direction.

For thisA purpose a( gear. segmentzis mounted Y on one end ofthe shaft'58 imposition for en -l coil springli adapted to-pull the member 64` normallygin a direction for maintaining the same in latching engagement'with the segment 62, as

represented in Figure 2 ABy pushingthe latch member 64 away from said segment 62 (or The sliding latch bar 90'is retracted automatically the throwing of the arms 56 and 51 upwardly Vinto folding or inoperative.' position preparatory tol reversing the table 31 for travelis accomplished by providing a retracting nger finger projecting through aslo't'98 in the latch bar 90 (see Figure 3).

shaft, 58 (see Figure 5). AV set collar ID3 is rotation of th shaft 58 (on raisingof 'arms 56 unlatching function between successive reversals of theoperation of the apparatus.

In the operation ofthe apparatusgthe flatfolded material is placed upon the rotary table against the spring action) the operator can manually release said latching engagement in order nv to shift thesegment for the purpose of varying the height of lower guide members 48'y and 49.

- A stop pinA 61 is carried by thesegment 6 2 in position for engagement with the-arm 56 in sucha way as to limit itslowering movement.

Provision is also made for not only latching saidarms 56 and 51 in theirlower o rHoperative position during the travel of the apparatus in either direction, but alsofor operating the latching means for releasing the same from either 31 as represented at 4'9 in Figure 3, and the free end portion 4I thereof carried 'up over the guide bars 43 and 53, and also over or 4between the pairs of'guide lrollers '48`-49 and llt8. `-49',`de

pending on the character and weightof thecloth material-lighter material requiring." a more f weave-like .feeding action thanV relativelyv heavier materials in order to lay and deposit the same in a flat and smooth condition. In this connection it may be pointed out that-where the material is threaded through` between said guide rollers,

' the drag on the material may be varied accordside of the apparatus. For this purpose the segment 62 is formed with a shoulder 10 for engagement with a pawl 12`which is maintained nor- -V mally in'latching engagement witlifsaid shoulder by means of a spring 14 `acting upon a dog 15 mounted on a rocker shaft or pin 11 journaled in the arm 56 and having said pawl 12 an'd dog 15 secured to the opposite ends thereof (Figure 5). The dog 15 is adapted to beactu'atedifor disengaging said pawl 12 from the shoulder V1li) by means of a linger 801 secured 'to one end ofa j shaft 82 extending axially through'the shaft"'58,

ing to'theadjustment of said rollers upon their supporting' pins 5I and 5| as already explained.

The arms 56 and 51 are let down into their.r

lower position for trailing the cloth material over the top of theV table 20 as the apparatus is moved to the left in Figure`3. The adjustmentto Yinitial lowermost position is effected by unlatchingthe pawls 12 bymeansofeitherjofthe handles 84 or 84' and lowering said arms 56and` 51 and at the' same time holding the latch' 64 away from the segment 6 2 while the latter'is'turned clockwise"(in Figure 2') by engagement of arm 56with The collar portion of v .said `finger 91 'is also vprovided'with a lug or 'shoulder 99 adapted to engage av shoulderV |09 I. formed on a collar |02 adjus'tably secured to said 4:()v

mountedadjacent t0 said finger v91 for maintain` ing the latter inoperative relation to the collarrv From this Vconstruction it is apparent that` released for 'relatchingthe 'segment-61m thegdesired position.

At this time the rotary. table I 31 .isf-adjusted atransversely, f by meansr of 'the .1 adjusting .Y screws then placed and held in startingiaposition('as....

by means of asuitableeweight), and the operator proceedsto push-the..apparatus back and forth along the tableby means of handle members |05 of the same type as illustrated in our aforesaid pending application. The extent of travel between reversals depends upon the length of the strips to be cut, the material being cut at the end of each successive'strip and then weighted before reversing the position of the table 31. After cutting and weighting each new-strip the arms 56 and 51 are unlatched by means of one of the handles 84 or 84', so that the arms are free to be swung up into the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, as required for lifting the free end of the material up off the table'20 and thus facilitating the turning of the table 31. This swinging of the arms 56-51 simultaneously rotates the shaft 58 and causes the finger 91 to retract the latch bar 94, thereby unlocking the table 31 for rotary reversingmovement, which movement of course takes place with a smooth and easy rolling travel by virtue of the roller bearing support above described.

In this connection it may be pointed out that the locking recesses 81 are provided with shoulders 81 in position for engaging the. end of the latch bar 94 and automatically stopping such reverse movement of the table in each successive reversing operation thereof.

On reversal of the tables position, the arms B and 51 are again lowered, allowing the relatching of thetable to take place automatically, which is followed also by the relatching of said arms in their relowered position. The apparatus is then pushed slightly to match the cut end of the web of material 4I with the end of the cut and laid strip on the table 20, and after weighting the same again, the machine or apparatus isnowready to lay a new strip by travel an equal distance in the opposite direction. Thereafter the operation is simply a repetition of thev foregoing.

As the operator preferably operates from the same side of the table 2D at all times, the reversal of the table 31 brings its opposite side next to the operator, and hence the provision of the two handles 84 and 84 for alternate operation in releasing the pawl 12 to permit raising the arms 56 and 51. As the operation proceeds and the stack of cut strips of material piles up, the operator can intermittently elevate said arms above the stack by the adjustment above described, through the medium of the latch member 64 and resetting of the segment 62 in relation thereto.

While We have illustrated and described what we have found to represent a most practical and eincient construction for carrying out the proposed objects of our invention, it will be understood that the apparatus as shown is simply illustrative and may be variously modified within the spirit and scope of our invention; we therefore reserve the right to make all changes and modications which may fairly be deemed to fall denedibyither.following claims., v

adapted :.to. beA movedaupwardly into,t folded rela-4 tionito said..uppenplortiom` means'for .latching.said.. 3 lower; portion l.in its'.l lower '.operatve.` position, and...

means operable from either side of said table for releasing said latching means.

2. Apparatus for laying andV spreading atfolded material, comprising a travelling carriage having a Vtable mounted thereon for movement about avertical axis, cloth laying and spreading means supported by said table and including a lower portion movable upwardly into inoperative position above the level of said table, means for latching said table in either of two diametrically opposite positions on said carriage, and means actuated by the upward movement of said lower portion of the laying and spreading means for releasing said latching means.

3. Apparatus of the characterv described comprising a travelling carriage, a table mounted on said carriage and rotatable about a vertical axis, cloth laying and spreading means supported by one end of said table and including a lower portion movable'into inoperative position above the level of said table, means for latching said table in either of two diametrically opposite positions on said carriage, means forlatching said lower portion of the spreading means in its lower operative position, meansoperable from either side of the table for releasing said second latching means, and means actuated by the movement of said lower portion of the spreading means into inoperative position for releasing said table-latching means.

4. Apparatus of the character described, comprising a travelling carriage, a table mounted on said carriage and rotatable about a vertical axis, cloth laying and spreading means supported by one end of said table and including a lower portion movable into inoperative position above the level of said table, means separate from said iirst means for latching said table'in either of two l diametricalli7 opposite positions on said carriage, means acting automatically on movement of said lower portion into operative position to operate K said latching means into table-latching position,

and means operating in response to movement of I said lower portion into inoperative position to retract said latching means from table-latching position.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a travelling carriage, a table mounted on said carriage and rotatable vabout a vertical axis, cloth laying and spreading means supported by one end of said table and including a rocker shaftcarrying cloth-spreading elements movable into operative position below and into inoperative position above the table level, means for latching said table in either of two diametrically opposite positions on said carriage, and means actut ated by said shaft for rendering saidlatching means operativeLand inoperative according as said spreading elements are respectively below and above the table level.

wimmthespuitend.sweeter the inventadas,

6. Apparatus of the character described*com-A prising a travelling carriage, atable mounted onY said carriage and rotatable about va. vertical axis,

cloth laying vand. spreading means supportedfby` 1I.' said table, and aspring-actuated latchbar for locking said table against rotativemovement;V said table being provided at diametrically oppo-` site points with locking recessesV for engagement by said latch bar, one side Vof each of said recesses being formed with a projecting stop shoulder for limiting the rotative movements of the table intoopposite latching'positions.

7.Apparatus of the character described com- Y prising a travelling carriage, a table mounted on said carriage 'androtatable about a vertical axis,

' cloth laying andispreading meaiis supported byone endof said :tableand including a'lower portion movable into inoperative position above the level of said table, means for latching said table in either of twodiametrioally .opposite positions on saidrcarriage, means forlatching 'said lower portion of the spreading means in its lower. operative position, andzmeans actuated by the move- 

